Hydrangea plant named &#39;LC NO9&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO9’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with strong lateral branches; early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a long period time; dense and hardy inflorescences with large white-colored sterile and prominent white-colored fertile flowers; and good garden performance.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Hydrangea Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Provisional application Ser. No.: 62/973,658

Filed: Oct. 17, 2019

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LC NO9’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Assignee, Mr. Alex Frederick Schoemaker of Boskoop, The Netherlands on Oct. 19, 2018, application number 2018/2637. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commercially referred to as a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘LC NO9’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Hydrangea plants with uniform plant habit and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2013 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVP Pinky’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,166, as the female, or seed, parent with Hydrangea paniculata ‘Dharuma’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands during the summer of 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since the summer of 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LC NO9’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LC NO9’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit with strong lateral branches.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in         flower for a long period time.     -   4. Dense and hardy inflorescences with large white-colored         sterile and prominent white-colored fertile flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘DVP Pinky’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘DVP Pinky’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have prominent         fertile flowers whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘DVP Pinky’         have inconspicuous fertile flowers.     -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more         intense dark red in color with development than sterile flowers         of plants of ‘DVP Pinky’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Dharuma’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Dharuma’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have glossier leaves than plants         of ‘Dharuma’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have longer inflorescences than         plants of ‘Dharuma’.     -   3. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more         intense dark red in color with development than sterile flowers         of plants of ‘Dharuma’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Kyushu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘Kyushu’.     -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more         intense dark red in color with development than sterile flowers         of plants of ‘Kyushu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘LC NO9’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of a typical inflorescence (top of sheet) and typical leaves (bottom of sheet) of ‘LC NO9’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late summer in 27-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 12° C. to 22° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. As a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea, plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO9’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVP Pinky’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,166.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Dharuma’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 120 days             at temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading and uniform plant habit; overall plant shape,             broadly upright, obovate to roughly globular; strong and             sturdy stems; moderately vigorous growth habit and low             growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 51.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 55.8 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—About ten lateral branches develop per             plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Length.—About 29.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 7 cm.         -   Texture.—When developing, smooth and glabrous; fully             developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 20° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to between 53B and 60A.             Developed: Close to between 53A and 59B; proximally, close             to 166C; when woody, close to N199A and 200B to 200C.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Moderate; none observed on developing             stems. Size, developed stems: About 2 mm by 0.5 mm. Color,             developed stems: Close to 54A; with development, becoming             closer to 174D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.         -   Length.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to truncate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent; moderately             rugose.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Moderately pubescent; moderately             rugose.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A to             144B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between             144B and 146D. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close             to NN137B slightly tinged with close to 147A; venation,             close to 178C, proximally, close to 185A. Fully developed             leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146B and 147B;             venation, close to N170D, proximally, close to 183C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Mostly smooth and             glabrous, margins are moderately pubescent; moderately             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 183B.             Color, lower surface: Close to between 59A and 187C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and prominent             fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles; panicles             broadly conical in shape; sterile flowers face mostly             upright; fertile flowers face upright to outwardly depending             on position on the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; sweet to somewhat moldy.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering, flowering begins             in the early summer and is continuous until midsummer in             Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about five weeks on             the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about five days on the plant, fertile flowers not             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 17             sterile flowers and about 950 fertile flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 13 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 14.1 cm.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 154D; distally,             close to 150D.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to between             155C and 157D, distally, slightly tinged with close to 59D.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.2 cm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 8 mm.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four             arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About             3.5 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate, concave. Apex: Broadly acute.             Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to between 150D and 155A;             towards the margins, close to 155A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 155C; towards the apex, slightly tinged             with close to 59D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             155A; color does not change with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 155C; color does not change with             development.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five             arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4.5 mm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base:             Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to NN155A; towards the             margins, close to NN155C. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155B to             NN155C; color does not change with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 155C; color does not change             with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically             four arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2.2 cm.             Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly             orbicular. Apex: Obtuse to emarginate. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 155A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 155B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between             155A and 160D; with subsequent development, color becoming             closer to 183D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155A;             with subsequent development, color becoming closer to 184B             with venation, close to 183B.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Reniform. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 157A to 157B, color             does not change with development. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 157A; color does not change             with development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30°             from branch axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely to moderately             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to between 154D and 157A.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:             About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 20°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely to moderately             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 157D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About four. Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Filament             color: Close to 155C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 156B. Pollen             amount: None observed. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower:             Typically two or occasionally three. Pistil length: About             2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to             157B. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 145C.             Ovary color: Close to 145C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 161C. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 156D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Typically five or occasionally three or             four. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to NN155A. Style length: About 1 mm.             Style color: Close to 160D. Ovary color: Close to 160D.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production     conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed     have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO9’ as illustrated and described. 